Becky's Book Reviews

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

May Reflections

I read fifty-two books in the month of May!

Books reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews:

87. Queen Bee. Amalie Howard. 2023. 368 pages. [Source: Library]

88. A Sky Full of Song. Susan Lynn Meyer. 2023. [April] 272 pages. [Source: Library]

89. Girl Forgotten. April Henry. 2023. [March] 264 pages. [Source: Library]

90. The Choice. Gillian McAllister. 2020/2017. 368 pages. [Source: Library]

91. Project F. Jeanne DuPrau. 2023. [October 10] 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]

92. Signs of Survival: A Memoir of the Holocaust. Renee Hartman with Joshua M. Greene. 2022. (2021) 128 pages. [Source: Library]

93. The Refusal Camp. James R. Benn. 2023. [March] 255 pages. [Source: Library]

94. Snow and Poison (Cinder & Glass #2) Melissa de la Cruz. 2023. [April] 336 pages. [Source: Library]

95. Honest June. Tina Wells. 2021. 272 pages. [Source: Library]

96. Peter and the Starcatchers (Peter and the Starcatchers #1) Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Illustrated by Greg Call. 2004. 452 pages. [Source: Library]

97. Star Splitter. Matthew J. Kirby. 2023. [April] 320 pages. [Source: Library]

98. When Clouds Touch Us. Thanhhà Lại. 2023. [May] 256 pages. [Source: Library]

99. Menacing Manor. (Sinister Summer #4) Kiersten White. 2023. 272 pages. [Source: Library]

100. Bea and the New Deal Horse. L.M. Elliott. 2023. 384 pages. [Source: Library]

101. And Then She Vanished. Nick Jones. 2021. 246 pages. [Source: Library]

102. Flipped. Wendelin Van Draanen. 2001. 212 pages. [Source: Library]

103. A Darkening of Dragons. (Songs of Magic #1) S.A. Patrick. 2018/2020/2022/2023. 400 pages. [Source: Library]

104. Lying in the Deep. Diana Urban. 2023. 384 pages. [Source: Library]

105. The Woman in the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Helped Fly the First Astronauts to the Moon. Richard Maurer. 2023. 272 pages. [Source: Library]

106. Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust. Elisa Boxer. Illustrated by Amy June Bates. 2023. [March] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to Cover Image]

107. An Ocean of Stars. Becca Mionis. 2023. 421 pages. [Source: Library]

108. A Vanishing of Griffins. (Songs of Magic) S.A. Patrick. 2021/2023. 400 pages. [Source: Library]

Books reviewed at Young Readers:

100. Board book: Bugblock. Christopher Franceschelli. Illustrated by Peski Studio. 2023. [April] 84 pages. [Source: Review copy]

101. Animals in Pants. Suzy Levinson. Illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell. 2023. [April] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

102. The Astronomically Grand Plan (Astrid the Astronaut #1) Rie Neal. Illustrated by Talitha Shipman. 2022. [July] 112 pages. [Source: Library]

103. Woo Hoo! You're Doing Great! Sandra Boynton. 2023. [April] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

104. A Giant Problem. (Mihi Ever After #2) Tae Keller. 2023. [May] 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]

105. Dazzle Makes a Wish (Book Buddies #3) Cynthia Lord. Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. 2023. 80 pages. [Source: Library]

106. Princess Private Eye. Evelyn Skye. 2023. [May] 320 pages. [Source: Library]

107. Basil of Baker Street. (Great Mouse Detective). Eve Titus. 1958. 113 pages. [Source: Library]

108. Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy (Doggo and Pupper #3) Katherine Applegate. Illustrated by Charlie Alder. 2023. [March] 96 pages. [Source: Library]

109. What Does Baby See (Board Book) Peter Pauper Press, Inc. Illustrated by Simon Abbott. 2023. 20 pages. [Source: Library]

110. Nat the Cat Takes a Bath (Ready to Read: Pre-Level One) Jarrett Lerner. 2023. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

111. Ways to Build Dreams. Renee Watson. Illustrated by Nina Mata. 2023. [October] 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]

112. Ella Fitzgerald (She Persisted) Andrea Davis Pinkney. Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. 2023. [April] 80 pages. [Source: Library]

113. How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

114. Pew! The Stinky and Legen-dairy Gift From Colonel Thomas S. Meacham by Cathy Stefanec Ogren. Illustrated by Lesley Breen. 2023. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

115. Picture book: The Teachers I Loved Best. Taylor Mali. Illustrated by Erica Root. 2023. [March] 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

116. Board book: Cowy Cow. Chris Raschka. 2014. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

117. Picture book: Truffle: A Dog (And Cat) Story. David McPhail. 2023. [June] 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

118. Picture Book: Oh No, the Aunts Are Here. Adam Rex. Illustrated by Lian Cho. 2023. [May] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

119. Picture book: Anatole (Anatole #1) Eve Titus. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. 1956. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

120. Anatole and the Cat (Anatole #2) Eve Titus. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. 1957. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image]

121. Picture Book: (Golden Book) The Kitten Who Thought He Was A Mouse. Miriam Norton. Illustrated by Garth Williams. 1951. 22 pages. [Source: Library]

Books reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

45. Thru the Bible #29: Jonah and Micah. 1979. 173 pages. [Source: Bought]

46. Be Amazed: Restoring an Attitude of Wonder (Minor Prophets). Warren W. Wiersbe. 1996. 212 pages. [Source: Bought]

47. Petunia. Roger Duvoisin. 1950. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

48. Be Concerned: Making a Difference in Your Lifetime (Minor Prophets). Warren Wiersbe. 1996. 148 pages. [Source: Bought]

Bibles reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

3. NRSV XL: Holy Bible. God. 2007. 1824 pages. [Source: Bought]

4. The NIV Rainbow Study Bible. (NIV 1984) 1992. 1576 pages. [Source: Bought]

5. NKJV, Deluxe Reader's Bible. God. 2018. 1952 pages. [Source: Bought]

5.5 New Testament with Study Helps: New International Version. God. 1973/1976. 489 pages. [Source: Bought]

Totals:

Books Read in 2023	284
Pages Read in 2023	68876
January
# of Books	50
# of Pages	12848
February
# of Books	72
# of Pages	15241
March
# of Books	55
# of Pages	15216
April
# of Books	55
# of Pages	10876
May
# of Books	52
# of Pages	14695

Monday, May 29, 2023

108. A Vanishing of Griffins

A Vanishing of Griffins. (Songs of Magic) S.A. Patrick. 2021/2023. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image] [Middle Grade]

First sentence: Erner woke, as he did every morning, from a nightmare: being pushed off the back of a dracogriff, into a cold lake far below.

Premise/plot: A Vanishing of Griffins is the second book in a trilogy of MG fantasy inspired by the Piper of Hamelyn. (Darkening of Dragons was the first book in this trilogy.) The first third of this one wraps up some of the drama from book one. (Erner is reunited with his former friends/companions. Wren is no longer cursed. One of the leaders (I forgot his name) has been healed.) The remainder of the book is essentially a new action-adventure fantasy story. New characters. New main story. Big battle. Huge battle. Way more action than character development. (They are facing off against the same villain.)

My thoughts: I really LOVED A Darkening of Dragons. Or at least I remember really, really liking it. I don't recall off hand if it was four stars or five stars.) I loved the storytelling, the characterization. Everything I loved about the first novel in the series seems to be absent in the second. It might be mostly me. It might not be either. I did read the first third of the book in one sitting. Took one day off of the book. Came back and discovered that there were a thousand and one new characters and a big shift in story. It might just be that I blanked out on the transition and some key moments where those new characters are introduced. This one has a LOT of action. At least twice the action. So for readers who enjoy action-packed fantasy, this one may appeal. I like a little more characterization. (Which I got for the first third.)

Saturday, May 27, 2023

Sunday Salon: Why Do I Read?

Does the world need this post? No. Definitely no. Do I sometimes feel the need to reassure myself and reassess by writing such a post? Yes.

Reading is a habit. Reading is a choice. Reading is deliberate and intentional. Reading is spontaneous and fun.

I think reading, for me, has become so embedded in a BRAID of reading-reviewing-blogging, that it can be a bit messy to separate it all out again.

Would I still read books if I never wrote another review?

Would I still read books if I retired from blogging?

If I never once wrote about books again, would I still be a reader?

Would I still choose to read books each and every day?

How long would I go between books? Would I approach reading books the same way?

Would I choose different books? Is my reading taste really different if I'm reading 100% for me? Should it be?

If I am reading for me, why do I write reviews? Are reviews more for me or for others? Is there a right answer to this question?

Would I keep reading (and reviewing) even if my reviews are only seen and read by less than a dozen people? less than a handful? Do I need *any* validation to keep reading?

Am I looking for validation? for appreciation? for bragging rights? Am I reading for the right reasons? Is there a wrong reason to read? Is reading its own reward?

What is most satisfying...reading the book...or posting a review???

Would I still be a reader if I wasn't also a reviewer? a blogger?

Is reading still my "first love"? Or has it become mechanical, just something I can do so I can keep on keeping on with the blog?

Do I want to finish a certain number of books per week because I genuinely love reading? Or am I thinking about the rankings on GoodReads? Is it wrong to want to move up the list?

These are the questions that I don't know if I can ever fully answer--internally. Definitely not going to try in this post.

I want to read for the right reasons. I want reading to be first and foremost. I want to care more about reading than I do about the rest of it, the trappings, the byproducts. I want to be madly in love with reading without getting caught up and overwhelmed in the other stuff.

Friday, May 26, 2023

107. An Ocean of Stars

An Ocean of Stars. Becca Mionis. 2023. 421 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to cover image] [Young Adult]

First sentence: "Xanorra Nepier, the council will see you now."

Premise/plot: The synopsis from GoodReads starts off strong, "Girl, meet boy. He’s the reason you’re lost in space." The heroine, Xan (or Xanorra), is the "sole survivor" (so she thinks) of a "space pirate" attack. Her escape pod was damaged and--for better or worse--she was rescued by the attacking ship. Captain Omen (his first name is literally Captain) has been raised by A.I. robots. At least within his own memory, he's never seen--or interacted with--another human being. (His birthday messages from his parents do reveal that his parents did hold him as a baby--before shipping him off into space.) So Captain and Xan are the sole humans on board this vessel. And the ship's A.I. robots are one-minded. MISSION, MISSION, MUST FULFILL THE MISSION. And the mission doesn't include Xan. At all. Not even a little bit. Xan's presence on the ship distracts Captain, to say the least. Can she teach him to be human and less robotic? What will the come to mean to one another?

My thoughts: Science Fiction. Set in space. Some romance. What's not to love? This one started off strong, in my opinion, the hero was giving off a mix of Sheldon Cooper and Beast (from Beauty and the). The banter was of decent quality. There was some suspense and tension. But the more I read, the more disappointed I ultimately became. (I am not saying all readers will.) As the story progressed, my vibes switched from Beauty and the Beast to Isaac Asimov...and while I appreciate some of his work...I didn't really want super-creepy-robots intruding on the story. But ultimately, I think I was mainly disappointed by the lack of ending. It didn't even particularly end in a dramatic cliff-hanger way. It just ended with a whimper.

I liked some things. I didn't like other things. I think it depends on your expectations on if this one is for you.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

106. Hidden Hope

Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust. Elisa Boxer. Illustrated by Amy June Bates. 2023. [March] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [Link to Cover Image] [Middle Grade]

First sentence: "Hide! Quick!"
Hearts pounding,
breath quickening,
feet scrambling.
Down into damp basements,
up into old attics,
crammed into dark closets.

Premise/plot: Nonfiction title for upper elementary on up. This picture book for older readers is set in France during the Second World War. The focus is on a young girl--a young woman--who smuggles false identity papers to Jews by using a TOY DUCK. (Yes, a toy duck). Her name is Jacqueline Gauthier. This is her story of how she (and the duck) helped save two hundred lives. It is written in verse.

My thoughts: I loved this one so much. I absolutely love hearing new stories. I love continuing to learn about the war, about the Holocaust, about these experiences. Every voice matters. Every story is worthy of an audience. I'd never heard of this story! And it was such a great story! I loved learning about this young woman and the creative way a TOY DUCK was used to smuggle papers. I loved the gumption and bravery.

The narrative and illustrations are SO good. Definitely recommend it.